Functional regulation by ethylene throughout the cotton life cycle

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Agricultural Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Ethylene is a key plant hormone influencing numerous developmental processes.
• Its role in cotton (Gossypium spp.) is complex and dose-dependent.
• Ethylene interacts with other plant hormones, affecting growth and stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the multifaceted roles of ethylene in cotton.
• To highlight ethylene's unique regulatory functions in cotton development and stress.
• To explore ethylene's significance in cotton harvest management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on ethylene in cotton.
• Analysis of ethylene's dual regulatory effects.
• Examination of hormone crosstalk involving ethylene.
• Assessment of ethylene's role in defoliation and maturation.

Main Results:

• Ethylene exhibits a dual effect: promoting growth at moderate concentrations and causing adverse effects (leaf shedding, reduced yield) at high concentrations.
• Ethylene interacts with gibberellic acid (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and brassinosteroids (BR) to regulate cotton development and stress responses.
• Ethylene is critical for the efficacy of chemical defoliants and harvest aids in mechanized cotton harvesting.

Conclusions:

• Ethylene is a pivotal regulator in cotton, impacting growth, development, stress tolerance, and harvestability.
• Targeted breeding and precision regulation strategies focusing on ethylene are promising for improving cotton production.
• Further research into ethylene's unique mechanisms in cotton can optimize agricultural practices.